Resource World Magazine

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9 www.resourceworld.com 67 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES amount of available electric power in MW that could be generated was estimated based on variables such as volume, flow rates, and salinity. They developed simple economic models for each of the four proxy power plants, using capital costs (cost to build the plant and drill the necessary number of wells), and specific measures of financial viability, to find the levelized cost of producing electricity in dollars per megawatt hour of energy produced. In the Clarke Lake Gas Field Reservoir Characterization report, researchers from the University of Alberta analysed the potential of the depleted Clarke Lake natural gas field in northeast BC for its potential as a geothermal reservoir. "We looked at the key geological variables that control the flow of hot water through the rocks," said Evan Renaud, MSc Geology candidate and lead researcher on the proj - ect. "Once we understood the permeability and porosity of the rocks, we simulated how the water would flow in a geothermal power plant." This project provides data to lower exploration risk and helps the clean energy sector, land managers, governments and communities make more informed deci - sions about potential development at the Clarke Lake Field. The Clarke Lake Field is located about 14 km southeast of Fort Nelson, in far northeast BC in the Horn River Basin, the province's second largest natural gas basin that stretches from south of Fort Nelson north to the Yukon border. Unlike other potential geothermal resources in British Columbia, the Clarke Lake Field has been extensively used for natural gas production. The public data, including core, core analyses, well pro - duction records and well logs, allow for modeling of geothermal energy produc- tion at the Clarke Lake Field without the need for costly and time-consuming field exploration. The researchers entered core and well log data into advanced modelling software to create a model of the Clarke Lake geo - thermal reservoir and simulate hot water production. They identified primary flow units with relatively high average porosity and permeability. The resulting simulations demonstrated that 300 kilowatts (kW) of electrical power could be produced using a well doublet, two paired wells, one beside each other, and 2,400 kW of electri - cal power using a four injector and eight producer well configuration. Final project results suggest the Clarke Lake Field may be a good potential candidate for a geo- thermal power plant. Geoscience BC Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Carlos Salas said, "This new information is needed to help the clean energy sector, communities, Indigenous groups and governments to make more informed decisions about the future of geothermal energy and heat in northeastern BC." RENEWABLE ENERGY GOES GLOBAL Headquartered in Longueuil, Québec, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. [INE- TSX] is an independent renewable power producer that develops, acquires, owns, and operates hydroelectric facilities, wind farms, solar farms, and geothermal power generation plants. As a global corporation, Innergex con - ducts operations in Canada, the United States, France, Chile, and Iceland. With 68 operating facilities, Innergex oper- ates an aggregate net installed capacity of 2,091 megawatts (MW) (gross 3,072 MW), including 37 hydroelectric facilities, 25 wind farms, four solar farms and two geo- thermal facilities. Innergex also holds interests in five projects under development, with a net installed capacity of 719 MW (gross 800 MW), two of which are under construc - tion, as well as prospective projects at different stages of development, with an aggregate net capacity totaling 8,382 MW (gross 9,246 MW). In 2018, the company acquired the Phoebe solar photovoltaic project located in Winkler County, Texas, a 50% owner - ship in Energia Llaima in Chile, and their partner's interest in the five Cartier wind farms. The Cartier wind farms, located in the Gaspésie region of Québec, produce an aggregated gross installed capacity of 590 MW, and the expected long-term average annual power generation is approximately 1,780 gigawatt hours, enough to power about 80,900 Québec households. All the electricity produced by these wind farms is sold to Hydro-Québec under existing PPAs at fixed prices. "We are pleased with the contribution of our recent acquisitions as well as of the progress made at the Upper Lillooet River [British Columbia] and Mesgi'g Ugju's'n facilities," said Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex. "Innergex continues its growth strat - egy with the acquisition of our partner's interest in the five Cartier wind farms and operating entities, the acquisition of a potential solar project in Ohio, as well as the advancement of potential oppor - tunities including the two potential solar projects in Hawai'i. We believe we are in a good position to continue seizing oppor- tunities that can derive great value for our shareholders." n

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